Rugby World Cup 2019: Pool, Teams, Squad

The Rugby World Cup 2019 is just a few days ahead, and many fans around the world specifically in participating countries are looking into it. Are you also among those fans? While we are also counting on the dawn of 20th September, we are also holding onto the expectation that our preferred will excel in this tournament.

While our favorite teams will have to play and compete with the other 20 teams that have placed into five different pools, winning the trophy is no expectation of every participant. However, what is important is to see our preferred teams succeed in each pool of five teams and advance to the next knockout stage.

Pool A

Pool B

Pool C

Pool D

Ireland

New Zealand

England

Australia

Scotland

South Africa

Argentina

Wales

Russia

Italy

France

Georgia

Japan

Namibia

United States

Uruguay

Samoa

Canada

Tonga

Fiji

While
this is usually hard to achieve step, as we have seen the previous eight
editions of this tournament, we expect imaginable things to happen. Among the
things is to see the least preferred team go home with the trophy. We also
expect to see the magnificent display of talents across the 12 stadia and which
will be our source of entertainment.

For
us, we take the little time that we have to go through all the teams that have
qualified to this tournament briefly.

Without squandering of any further minute, let us directly dive into it.

Ireland

We open our piece of content by looking at team Ireland. World Rugby has ranked Ireland as the third-best team in this sport. So, this implies that it is one of the favorite team and it ought not to be a miracle if they lift the trophy.

Team
Ireland has been placed in pool A and this will have to play their pool matches
against Russia, Scotland, and Samoa. What is eye-raising here is that they are
also in the pool with Japan, the host team.

Joe Schmidt will be the coach behind the success of the team Ireland Rugby World Cup. Though, he has confirmed that he will have to hang up his coaching skills after the end of this tournament.

Scotland

Moving
in the same way, Scotland is another team that has qualified to play in this
tournament. While the team has been ranked at position seven on the world rugby
ranking, they also bear some threat to other teams in the tournament.

They
have been placed in pool A and they will have to meet Russia, Ireland, Japan,
and Samoa in their pool matches.

The team also has some amazing talents in extraordinary individuals like Stuart Hogg who play upfront with Fin Russell. In the backline, the team is also packed with excellent talent from young and energetic guys like Grieg Laidlaw. The compilation can for sure control the game and win points.

Japan

Japan rugby team nicknamed as the cherry blossoms is traditionally one of the best teams across Asia. While they are the host team, they also bear a threat in this tournament.

They are ranked 11th by the world rugby ranking. This comes
after a good record it has over its fellow Asian rugby teams and to other teams
across the world. The Japan rugby union, established in 1926, manages the team.

The team has been participating in a variety of tournaments such as the Asian rugby cup and the Pacific Nations Cup. While they are also a threat to the Rugby World Cup, they are known to be the dominant team in these two tournaments.

Samoa

Placed in Pool A, the Samoa rugby team will have to play against the host team. They are ranked as the 17th best rugby team by the world rugby ranking. While they represent, a country known to have the least population, they are still a team to watch when in the field.

They are governed by Samoa rugby union and have been
participating in a number of tournaments apart from the world cup. Though they
have been pooled along with the wealthiest countries of the world, it has
nothing to do when it comes to sporting.

New Zealand

This is the team, which is almost a favorite of every fan
that will be in this tournament. This has also been confirmed by the first
position they hold on the World rugby ranking and this implies that they are
indeed the best team.

This can also be sorry to teams such as Italy, South Africa,
and Namibia who been placed in the same group.

None should be under expecting the all blacks team to shine
in this tournament. There is no doubt, as they are the defending champion. So,
they carry the top hopes of retaining the trophy. Though it will be, a
challenge as the other teams will come prepared to challenge. And in their
pool, South Africa is likely what could follow them to the next knockout stage.

The team bears top talent from Ben Smith and Beauden who ensure that the backline is protected. While at the upfront, the team receives excellent performance of the Retallick and Kieran Read who are outstanding when it comes to tries scoring.

South Africa

Here is another team that will make its appearance in this year’s Rugby World Cup. This team historically has an excellent record and they are bearing a threat to other participants. To be specific, Italy, New Zealand, Canada, and Namibia who have been placed in the same pool will have to tighten their belts.

With the fact that Canada has entered this tournament after
registering a win in the Repechage tournament, it implies that South Africa
will not have that banana skin. And qualifying from this group will even not be
easy.

It is also a doubt for them and this is evident from what
they achieved in the last year’s tournament, which was also followed with a
series of defeats.

However, they already redeemed their fame after beating New Zealand in the rugby championship tournament. South Africa has been ranked at the fifth place by the world rugby ranking.

Italy

This another favorite team in this tournament. They are
ranked as the 11th best team by the world rugby ranking.

They are nicknamed Azzuri, which originates from their blue
jersey they used to wear. For this tournament, Sergio Parisse will be the
captain and they will under the shaping of Connor shear who is the head coach.

While they have been placed in the same pool B with New Zealand who is the defending champion, one can simply say that qualifying from this pool is tougher to achieve. However, being defending champion doesn’t give a winning guarantee.

Namibia

Namibia who has been nicknamed Welwitschias is one of the tiers-two rugby teams that are governed by Namibia Rugby Union .they have been playing international tournaments since the 1900s. Namibia also annually competes for the African Cup. They first qualified for the Rugby World Cup in 1999 and they have qualified total five times since then.

They have been placed in the same pool, with New Zealand, who is the defending champion. While they are holding the lowest world rugby ranking of 22th, they have the least expectation of making it to the next knockout stage.

Canada

Ranked one position ahead of Namibia, Canada will also play
the 2019 world cup while in pool B.

They have been playing international tournaments since 1932,
and this year’s edition of the world cup will be no different from the previous
tournaments. They have been a participant in every world cup since 1987, which
is very amazing.

Apart from competing in the world cup tournaments, they are also a regular participant in the Pacific nation’s cup.

England

England is also one team who will be in this tournament.
Holding the fourth position on the word rugby ranking, they come with some
expectations in this year’s world cup. Though, they have been placed in what is
called, the pool of death.

However, for them, it is no different from what they were
grouped in the previous tournament.

Sincerely speaking, three teams can actually advance to the
next stage from this group. This implies that one big fish then has to cut its
expectation earlier.

The team has some pro players such as Mako, Billy, Maro Itoje, and Vunipola who are dangerous when they smell the score line. At the backline, they also feature the strongest men Sarace and Owen Farell who ensure that the opponents don’t score tries easily.

Under the expertise of Eddie jones that has a proud record, they have the highest chances of advancing to the next stage.

France

Placed in Pool C together with Argentina, England, Tonga,
and the USA, which is a group of death as many call it, France will have stiff
pool plays. Though it is clear that no France fan will like to hear the
prediction that France has the least odds of advancing to the next stage but
that is the reality.

While many are saying that the finalist might come from this
pool, on the other hand, it is also implied that if they qualify, they can have
the potential of reaching the final.

They are ranked at the eight places by world rugby ranking,
but logically they have a relatively weaker squad. However, they have talents
such as Hooker Guirado who known by his quick pace. If they work together with
Mathieu Bastareaud, it can be a very powerful combination that can have the
potential of scoring tries.

Brunel will guide the team through this year’s tournament. This man has won some titles such as finishing fourth in 2003 as an assistant coach. He was also the assistant coach to France during 2007.

United States

As we are looking for the Rugby World Cup 2019, we are also waiting to see the USA rugby union team go better as they are called the Eagles and flaunted. While they have already participated in the American Rugby championship, this has been one great way to prepare for the coming world cup.

The Eagles have been pooled in C and will have to play their pool matches against England, Tonga, Argentina, and France. All these pool C members are in the tournament with the highest hopes and therefore send a threat to any participant including the Eagles. This implies that it won’t be a banana skin for the Eagles to advance to the next stage. But if they will duplicate their 2018, performance, then their pool members should face a real battle.

Tonga

Here is a team that is known to practice war dances before
any match. The Ikale Tahi as they are nicknamed will test their hopes while in
pool C.

They are ranked at the 13th place on the world rugby
ranking.

The Tonga rugby team was formed to participate in the 1986 pacific cup and they have qualified and competed in five different world cups since 1995. Their most recent tournament was in 2017 when they earned their best results by reaching the semifinals.

Australia

Australia, nicknamed wallabies is another team that can be said as a great rugby team. For Australia, lifting this year’s trophy cannot be regarded as a miracle as they hold a confirming history. They are ranked at the sixth-best rugby team by the world rugby ranking. Though, their recent form can be a doubt. We hold our expectations that, this year will be their right moment to redeem themselves.

Placed in Pool D, they have to play against Wales, Fiji,
Uruguay, Georgia, and if to advance to the next stage, they have to win at
least two matches.

And this will not be a banana skin for them as for Fiji and Georgia no one will want to cut his expectation short too early. They also have some amazing talents such as Israel Folau who is one of the remarkable fullbacks. He usually seals the backline with help from Michael Hooper and David Pocock.

Wales

Wales is among the favorite teams in this tournament. Even
they are ranked as the second-best rugby team by world rugby ranking. Wales
makes the member of pool D alongside Australia, Fiji, Uruguay, and Georgia.

The wales team is also made up of some excellent talents such as George North, Taulupe Faletau, Dan Biggar, Williams, and Jonathan Davies. The combination can score the tries as well as protect the backline.

Georgia

They are nicknamed the Lelos, the Georgia rugby teams are governed by Georgia rugby union. They have been considered as a second-tier rugby team, who has been participating in a number of tournaments. The regular tournament being the European championship where they are the current winners. They have qualified to rugby world, four times since 2003.

Uruguay

The Uruguay national rugby team nicknamed, the Los Toro’s will also be in this tournament after a consecutive qualification in 1999, 2003 and most recently 2015.historically, they are also a good rugby team who are currently ranked at the 18th place on the world rugby ranking and the third-best team around American regions.

Governed by Union de Rugby Del Uruguay, they have been placed in Pool D, they also have an outstanding player who can score tries during the pool plays.

Final Words

These are all the teams who have qualified and will play in
this year’s tournament. During our overview, we didn’t follow any order in the
listing. Remember all these teams have qualified after meeting different
criteria; they all have that potential of advancing to the next stage and even
winning the trophy.